The Labor enquirer., 1887-11-12

4 -
alienabls right. ~ ~ " Y y = ~ II \
system which eonp & ~ ~;
fellow ereatureslnr ~ i y Go15 ~ tf r.
and permits ,ncnoDo ~ - ~ oV6 p Y
IFS natural opypstinilzcS ~ y q lSd ~ =
thusnlling the lahd Nh - = = = = - iiI' q
and bringing abous - un1o tQulDolf
ton, which tends - Io1u66 V " - )GEvu
tion rates and % nase ~ o611ln 30 49,
the industrial slave oftnees ~ GEog ~
| by his toll. &. x ~ Z
| Holding, mossovuEs ~ ~ n1vnn16G61
arising from social growth ~ inpEovodn4al
belong to society ~ lazGs. ~ ain 81 ttkoalol
ition OF the systemNhicA xnAkGDonGh bons0
centinventions - the EailBaod 81
means for the oppression q ths psople "a
the aggandizensnt q a axist6cFncy Il
wealth and power. = M;
We declare the true puspooo a eovsfnmsn1
TO be the maintenaneo ce thas nored Hit a
property which gfvssto every one oppertu-
nifty to employ his lehoe and oecuzity dat he
shall enjoy its fruits; 70 prevent the strong
nom depressing the veak end ~ unscfupu-
ious nom robbing the honest; andto do For
the equal benefit ot Al such things = can b
better done BY orsamissd socisty than By in
dividuals; and We aim 1t ths abolition Of I'll
laws which give to any claD Of citissns IN "a
vantage. either judicial, nnancial, industrial
or political. that are not equally shared by
all others.
We call upon all who seek tho emancipation
ofiabor and who would mate ths American
Union and its component states democratic
commonwealths Of really me- and independ-
ent citizens, 10 Ignore al minor differences
and join with MS in organizing : great na-
tional paaty on this broad platform OF nat
ural right and equal justice.
We do not aim ct securing any forced
equality In the distribution OF wealth. We
do not propose that the state shall attemptto
control production, conduct distribution, or
In anywise interfere with the equal rights Of
others. Nor do we propose that the state
Shall take possession Of land and either work
1t or rent 1t out. M
What we propose is not the disturbing Of
any man in his holding or title, but By sbol-
ishing alltaxes on industry or it, products
70 leave to the producer the full fruits Of his
exertion, and by taxation Of land values 70
the exclusion Of improvements, TO devote 70
the common use those values which, arising
not from exertion Of the individual, but nom
growth Of society, belong to the community
as whole. This increased taxation Of land
not according to it arsa, but according 70 it,
value, must, while relieving working fArmen
and small homestead owners OF the undue
burdens now imposed upon them, make It
unprontable to hold land for speculation, and
thus throw open abundant opportunities for
the employment Of flabor and the building mn
of homes
While thus simplifying government. BY
doing away with horde Of ofacials required
by the present system Of taxntion, with it,
incentives TO fraud and corruption. We would
further promote Uncommon veal and fur.
tner secure equal rights ofall by placing nm.
der public control such agencies a are in
their nature monopolies. We would have
our municipalities supply their inhabitants
with water, light and heat; We would have
the general government issue ell money with.
out the intervention Of banks; we would add
a postal telegraph system and postal ssvings
banks to the postal service. and would e
sumo public control and ownership Of those
iron roads which have become hiQhvays of
modern commerce,
While declaring the foregoing to be the fun
damental principles and aims OF the United
Labor Party, and while conscious that no 70
form can give effectual and permanent relief
10 labor that docs not involve legal recoeni-
tion Of equal rights to natural opportunities,
we neverthelessl as measures of relief nom
some OF the evfl effects Of ignoring those
rights, favor such legislation as may tend to
reduce the hours Of labor, to prevent employ.
ment OF children Of tender years, TO avoid
competition Of convict labor with honest in
dustry, to secure sanitary inspection Of tene
ments, factories and mines, and to put an
end to the abuse ofthe conspiracy laws,
We desire also to simplify ,he procedure OF
our courts, and diminish the expenses Of To-
gal proceedings, that the poor may be placed
on an equality with the rich, and the long
delays which now result in such scandalous
miscarriages Of justice may be prevented; /;
and since the ballot Ii the only means by
which, in our republic, the redress Of political
and social grievances Ii to be sought, We
especially and emphatically declare for the
adoption Of what is known as the "Austra-
liam system Of voting" In order that the
effectual secrecy Of the ballot and the relief
ofcandidates for public oflces from the heavy
expenses now imposed upon them may pre-
vent bribery and intimidation, do away with
the practical discrimination In favor OF the
rich and the interruptions, and lessen the
pernicious influence Of money in politics.
In support Of these aims We solicit the CO.
operation of all patriotic citizens who, sick
OF the degradation Of politics, desire by con-
stitutional methods to establish justice, 70
preserve liberty, to extend the spirit offrater.
nifty, and to elevate humanity.
PLATFORM OF THE PROGRESSIVE
LABOR PARTY.
At a meeting held in Webster
Hall, New York, September 8,
representatives from labor organi-
cations throughout the state Of
New York unanimously adopted
the following platform of princi-
pies; Y
| wbaraa, paalg.trU <h. u>.>.-ss, - L.